Heli-Expo Show Day: Restored Dauphin Makes Heli-Expo Debut

ROTOR LEASING IS DISPLAYING ITS NEWLY RESTORED EUROCOPTER AS365SH Dauphin at Booth 435. The eight-year-old twin was grounded and decommissioned by the Irish Air Corps in 2005 with 3,600 hr total time. Three other AS365s operated by the Irish Air Corps were also retired and purchased by Rotor Leasing. Each had less than 6,000 hr total time and were in need of inspections and service. As the best of the four Dauphins purchased, frame No. 427 was brought to the company’s Elbert, Colo. base and restored first. The job took 5,800 labor hours and included a fresh paint scheme reminiscent of the camouflage pattern used by the successful Panther military variant. Las Vegas-based Rotor Leasing plans to refurbish the other three in turn, and offer them for sale as 10 – 12-seat transport aircraft, as well as examples of the company’s ability to restore old aircraft to like-new condition. — Ernie Stephens